Greeted at the door by Marlene in true schoolteacher fashion, each member was presented with our yearbook for Calgary West Rotary year 2021-2022. Thanks, Marlene! And then, the new and the old board were respectfully bagpiped in by Mary Ann Houston in fully Scottish regalia!
President Marlene Doherty welcomed all to our hybrid meeting at the Calgary Golf and Country Club and initiated our meeting with a land acknowledge presented by Judy Cochran. Judy reminisced about growing up in Thorncliffe and playing in the gully where John Laurier now runs.
Land acknowledgement: This land has been a traditional meeting ground and a central trading place of the Blackfoot and the people of Treaty 7 region including the Siksika, the Pikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Stoney Nakoda. It is also home to the Metis Nation of Region 3 spanning thousands of years.
We honour the courage and strength of the indigenous people who lived in this area forging diplomatic relationships and as foundation builders for this province.
We honour them as life givers and care givers as we learn from their achievements, strength, and endurance.
O Canada followed, this time, sung by the Rotarians present and guests and led by Bob Pearson.
Pat Fitzsimmons online welcomed our guests and Gail Williams welcomed inhouse guests, Bontu Galataa, Don Beavis, RC of Calgary Millenium, Tony Davies, Mary Ann Houston, piper and Farid Bedwany, RC of Calgary.
President Marlene announced that we will be hearing from our Directors regarding our Strategic Plan and the Highlights of this last quarter and year in each of their areas. First up is continuing Director, Les Morgan for Membership.
Les Morgan presented the goal this year, which was 76 members and as of June 28, 2022, we will actually have 78 members. New members this year are Jean Claude Munyezamu, Kathryn Kaldestad, Raju Hajela, Martin Bunting and to be inducted on June 27, 2022, are Sue, Gord, Bontu Galataa and Don Beavis. Regrettably, leaving us this year are 8 members who will be missed. They are Gail Williams, Dalbir Rattan, Gord Cox, Bob Acton, Holland Berry, Dan Pigeon, Ken Montgomery, and Grant Ritchie. Les wished them success in future endeavours. The goal for sponsorships was 5 and the actual as of June 27 will be 6.
Other updates and highlights for the Membership Committee this year are:
- Induction redesigned to a very warm welcome and a commitment by the club to engage and support
- Much improved content in the welcome package
- Modifications to the mentorship programme and guidelines for effective and satisfying relationships
- For Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Steve Kuiack has taken the reigns as our club coordinator and already hosted educational and social events to kick us off in the right direction
- Lastly, thanks to the committee members: Bob Pearson, David Wartman, Don Edie, Mary Jayne Assaly, Rod McMahon and Duncan Stanners.
Barbie Hames is completing her year as Fun and Fellowship Director and will be a committee member under Membership next Rotary year.
Gord Cox presented the following updates as Club Service Director:
- Updated membership application form to google form, automated email to club secretary and membership director to facilitate quick responses.
- Social media training on how to share Facebook posts
- Posted numerous times to our club Facebook page 48+ resulting in a growing number of new followers expanding our reach
- Some training provided for bulletin production on Clubrunner
- Follow thru will be provided for our new director Chris Ritter
Judy Cochran is the Youth Director and will continue on for awhile in the upcoming year until Natalija Reljic is able to take over this position on the new board.
Judy presented a recap for the year starting with Vocational.
Scholarships went to:
- SAIT
- MRU (Connie Rymes)
- Unlocking Potential – at the first in person grad since Covid held in May, a $1,000 was awarded to Christina Berini
- South Sudanese Students in Ethiopia for 2 students to attend high school for 4 years in Gambella.
Costs are offset by a $1,000 District Undergraduate Scholarship Grant.
Youth Programs held this year:
- RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - 8 delegates attended the camp in May
- RAYEC – Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp to be held in August – 2 students will attend
- RYPEN – Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment to be held in September – 2 students will attend
- 4 Way Test Competition was held in March for the first time in a long time awarding $1,000 in prize money to 3 students
- STEP – Short Term Exchange Program. Something new for Calgary West. This is a family-to-family exchange over the summer months. Charvi will go to Italy in July and Ludovica will come to Calgary in August.
Costs are offset by a $2,000 District Youth Programs Grant
We will continue in the coming year to hopefully set up both an Interact and Earlyact Club.
Long Term Exchange is slated for 2023-24. We will partner with Fish Creek Club again sharing costs, IB/OB Counsellor duties, and the number of host families. A show of hands was requested to determine club support for this program. Madame President affirmed the majority are in favor.
Judy Cochran now resumed with her other duties on the financial side, reporting for the treasurer Don Eadie today.
Community: I will use projected figures to year end for the Income Statement. Actuals will be presented at the Fall Assembly.
Net funds from fundraising revenues, District Grants and Calgary Rotary Foundation Payment plus a previous year carry forward total $147,100.
On the expense side: Scholarships, Youth, LCS, ISC spending and miscellaneous total $72,500.
Net Profit is $74,800. This total includes funding for committed international projects and the $40K received in June from CRCF.
There is a strong cash balance at April 30 of $87,800 and $3,160 in the Desjardins account.
Casino: I will use projected figures to year end for the Income Statement. Actuals will be presented at the Fall Assembly.
Net funds from a previous Casino $67,130
Expenses include Youth, LCS and an honorarium to recognize the work Cindy Herzog does for the Club which totals $40,750.
Net profit is $18,770. There will be a committed project carry forward of $5,000 for the Children’s Cottage as part of a District Pooled Grant with 3 other Rotary Clubs.
There is a strong cash balance at April 30 of $35,900. Our next Casino is to be held in the first quarter of 2023.
General: All numbers here are as at April 30, 2022. Actuals will be presented at the Fall Assembly.
Net membership revenues total $24,500 offset by RI Dues, District Dues and Insurance totalling $14,900 for a net membership total of $9,500 in the account
Meal revenues after costs net $1,200.
A slight profit on events of $440.
Club admin costs total $2,000 for a net profit of $8,750. This will be drawn down by DISCON support and RI convention costs for the PE, Linda Anderson, and her spouse.
There is a strong cash balance at April 30 of $41,900. In June, the Board approved $26,000 from General go to Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation.
The upcoming budgets for 2022-23 will address the equity reserve issue but require ratification by the new Board in July. Stay tuned.
Dan Doherty will assume the roles and responsibilities of the Program Accounts Manager.
Drew Turnbull is up next with his report as Director of Grants and Services. Drew thanked the Committee leaders for Community and International Service Kurt Schurer and Steve Rickard. David Wartman will be assuming Drew’s directorship. Community Assessment is ongoing. Acknowledgement also goes to the committee members with a special thanks to Bill Quinney for all this work on measuring our volunteer service.
Terry Felton continues in his role as Director of Fundraising and despite some challenges has the intention of building finances for the club. Leadership for fundraising was identified as missing. Presently the Stampede event on Parade Day is short 27 people. It is a fun time and there is a free breakfast. Terry announced that the Cherries and Peaches will be proceeding but due to weather, delayed approximately 3 weeks.
Next up is Garfield Ganong, who is the continuing Director for the Rotary Foundations. He reports:
The Rotary Foundation: The Club used 23, 629 of our Paul Harris point this year – 5,000 for 5 Paul Harris Fellowships and 18,629 for transfers to 54 members (club matching in points up to maximum of 500 pts for donations to each of CRCF and TRF). Current club balance is 105, 257.
The Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation: The CRCF manages funds on behalf of the member clubs. It does not distribute directly to charitable recipients. The CRCF is managed by a Board of Directors which is comprised of members from each participating club. The Board is responsible for ensuring that pooled funds of member clubs are invested safely with recognized money managers and that returns are maximized to provide sustainability for the fund in perpetuity.
Currently 5% of the funds are then distributed annually to the member clubs in proportion to their share of the overall fund based on a 5-year total average. The clubs are then tasked to donate these funds to worthy charitable organizations. Since inception, over $25 million has been reinvested through the Calgary Rotary Clubs. Currently the CRCF manages a pool of funds more than $58 Million. This pool of funds has been raised through the efforts of the participating Rotary clubs within Calgary primarily through the generosity and philanthropy of individual Rotarians. Calgary West has just received a cheque for $40,238 as our portion of the capital total of $954,512 which has been donated to the CRCF in our Clubs name. Even in a bad fundraising year like the pandemic these funds keep coming in perpetuity.
And now, Garfield Ganong’s story:
I have now lived longer in Western Canada than where I was born and raised. Fredericton NB was home for the first 28 years of my life where I was raised and completed a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of New Brunswick. I met my wife Cheryl there on her first day at the UNB in 1972. We were married in 1974 at the tender age of 22. We had boys (Ryan and Joel) born in Fredericton in 1977 and 1978. After working for the New Brunswick Power Commission from 75 to 80 on the Point Leprow Nuclear plant and Dalhousie coal plant we were drawn to the West and moved to Calgary, in 1980 where I worked for Shawinnigan Engineering.
The infamous National Energy Program was instituted by Ottawa at that time and the Alberta market went to hell in a hand basket. Houses in Calgary were being sold for $1 as people walked away from mortgages they could no longer afford. By 1982, the economy had really fallen and we moved to Regina with the same company I was with in Calgary. At the time, we were doing feasibility study work for Saskatchewan Power on a potential new generating station which became the Shand Coal Fired power plant in Estevan, southern Saskatchewan. In Regina, I managed a multidiscipline engineering consulting company offering civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering consulting services. While in Regina for 17 years we had 2 more boys. (Grayden and Roghan) In 1999, I was asked to move back to Calgary, as vice president to manage the Alberta Operations of Cochrane SNC Lavalin which had offices in Edmonton, and Calgary. In time Cochrane, bought out SNC Lavalin’s interest in the Cochrane SNC Lavalin partnership and we went our own way in Engineering Consulting Offices in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. In the late 1990’s, we sold the architectural and engineering consulting business to Genivar, a large Quebec Engineering consulting firm. We, then, through Nustadia Recreation Inc concentrated on the Development and Operation of Recreation facilities across Canada. I took on the role of Senior VP and Chief Operating Officer and retired from this position Dec 31, 2020.
This past summer Grayden got married and Roghan got engaged. Our two oldest boys and their partners have given us 5 wonderful grandsons, all currently living in Regina.
My volunteerism began at a young age. I have always felt fortunate to have been born in Canada and that it is important to give back. I started out as a YMCA youth leader in my teenage years and later as a beaver, cub and scout leader for over 10 years when we had our first 2 boys. Lots of stories during that period. From lighting formal scout campfires with flaming arrows to battling grass fires and transferring cubs across the Moose Jaw River on a bosun’s chair. We, as leaders and the boys had a great time.
When we first moved to Calgary in 1980, I joined the Active 20/30 club. I remember selling Flames programs at home games in the old Corral as a club fundraiser. While in Regina I was a Kinsmen for may years holding most club positions including President and one year being on the organizing Committee for the Telemiracle 16 which at the time raised over $1 million for the Kinsmen Foundation. The largest telethon by population of any in the world.
After we moved back to Calgary, 1999, I began to look for another volunteer opportunity. My father had been a Rotarian in Fredericton for many years and after he passed in 2000, I started to think about and investigate Rotary. Our office was in the Atco tower and Calgary West met at the Danish Canadian club. I checked it out and eventually joined in 2001. Since then, I have held most positions and was President in 2007/08. I chaired the District Conference when Mike French was District governor. I think one of the most defining moments of being a Rotarian for me was going twice on a Homes of Hope build in Ensenada, Mexico.
Currently I am chair of the Foundation Committee, Team 3 Lead, and act as an Assistant District Governor for DG Martin Parnell. I am currently on the board of Calgary Heritage Housing which provides subsidized, quality, independent living for low to medium income seniors in Calgary.
My priorities have always been Family and Service. My hobbies include camping, golf, pickleball, games of all kinds, biking, skiing, music, and travel.
Rotary and Calgary West specifically offers a fantastic way to give back to our local, and international communities through so many different avenues in partnership with so many great like-minded people.
President Marlene called Dan Doherty to the podium to induct a new member, Bontu Galataa. Bontu is a Digital Integration Advisor at ATB Financial. She is also owner and lead consultant at Sayyoo Innovation and Consulting. Bontu is very active in her community, mobilizing and fund raised for East African Medical Relief Foundation. She is Board secretary for Resource Enriching African Lives (REAL). She is involved in her community as well by supporting Alberta Black Stakeholders for Social Economy, Wolf Willow Institute for Systems Learning, Calgary Black Chambers, Oromo Community Association of Calgary, and Alberta Oromo Professional Network. Dan gave Bontu a warm welcome indicating she is service above self already with her many involvements in volunteer activities. Our club job is to be her mentors. Bontu made a few remarks to the club. She received our welcome package and David Impey, our resident photographer, was on hand to take her photo as the world’s newest Rotarian.
President Marlene made her year end closing remarks with a thanks to Gerry Meek and Bill Fitzsimmons, immediate past presidents, who provided their leadership through the start of COVID and through the pandemic. Marlene had the endemic to deal with and hoped that Linda would not have another wave or variant to deal with. We were the only club in our district to successfully manage hybrid meetings. Special shout out to Gord Cox for his hard work. We connected through additions of “My Story”, my culture and cultural potluck. We had many events for fellowship including potlucks, walks, rides, Farkle night, picnic in the park, Pinebrook Christmas brunch, car rally etc. Cards were sent and pies where made and shared. Marlene gave a shout out to Bill Quinney, her Board and members of the committees. Communication was streamlined and members input received and utilized. New members were welcomed, PHF Citizenship Awards were presented, and a financial breech overcome. Marlene spoke to the accomplishments of the Board, the committees and all the members with appreciation and thanks. Finally, a gift for her board, a cooler sleeve with a new 4 Way Test: 1. Is it ice cold? 2. Is there enough for all concerned? 3. Will it build good times and better friendships? 4. Can it get better than this!! A standing ovation from the club members was a fitting conclusion to President Marlene’s remarks.
President Marlene introduced President Elect Linda Anderson. Linda, Incoming President thanked Marlene for her service this past year indicating that she had big shoes to fill and would do her best. Linda introduced her Board: Les Morgan, Membership; Terry Felton, Fundraising; Chris Ritter Club Administration; David Wartman, Grants and Services; Don Edie, Treasurer; Natalija Reljic (presently Judy Cochran) as Youth & Vocational Director. She also announced that there was no meeting on July 4th but a meeting to celebrate Stampede on July 11. At the meeting on July 18, Linda will outline her vision, the Board’s goals and plans for 2022/23 Rotary year. On June 27, there will be a presentation about Canada by our own Steve Kuiack. Please note- change of venue, we will meet at the Blackfoot Hotel.
Announcements:
July 7 – 8 Imagine Tour Activities announced by Dan Doherty, (make sure to check your e-mail for all the activities listed for those days with our first female Rotary International President Jennifer Jones.
You’re invited: For those unable to attend our in person meeting today or on June 27/22 please drop in on Saturday June 25/22 from 9-11am & pick up your Calgary West Yearbook. Doherty’s – 212 Clearwater Way. There is a copy for each member. The coffee will be on or you can simply pick a book up & dash.
The Video of the Four Way Test ended our meeting.
The End
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